toe amputation

[yorkie blue]

I have an ulcer on my toe and is getting worse. They are talking about Amputation, this is very scary to me, would like some advice if anyone has been the same thing Thankyou

 

[Wannie]

Hi @yorkie blue, sorry I cannot help with your query I am new to diabetes, but do know from accessing this forum for the past 5 weeks that someone will be along soon who will be able to give you an answer, there are some very knowledgeable and experienced people on the forum.

 

[yorkie blue]

Thank you and good luck with your Diabetes

 

[ianf0ster]

Hi @yorkie blue I have no personal experience, but I remember a member in the 'red forum' saying that he had initially neglected his T2 diabetes for many years and as a result had several toes amputated. But then he decided to take control (via Low Carb) and was in remission in less than 1yr. And had stayed in remission for over 2 yrs at the time he posted.

The reason that your ulcer isn't healing is because of your high Blood Glucose. So if you fix that quickly there is every reason to expect you have a chance of avoiding this amputation and certainly of preventing further amputations.
The fastest way of reducing Blood Glucose is by cutting carbs, but some people say they've had some eye issues by reducing carbs too quickly. Also it can be difficult to cut carbs hard if you are taking insulin, gliclazide or similar insulin boosting medication since they dosage relies on a certain amount of carbs boosting the blood glucose so that the blood glucose doesn't go too low (hypo) due to the does of the medication, which is dangerous.

 

[Leadinglights]

Certainly having your blood glucose levels under good management is a good idea as that will help with tissue healing. I assume you are being treated by a specialist in foot care, not sure who that would be but are you having antibiotics that are not working in which case a different 'cocktail' may be needed.
But there may be some non antibiotic treatment which may help, manuka honey, silver dressings, or even maggots (sounds horrible I know but they are tiny) which have been used when conventional treatment doesn't work.
As you say amputation is a scary prospect.
How do you manage your condition?

 

[yorkie blue]

Hi @yorkie blue I have no personal experience, but I remember a member in the 'red forum' saying that he had initially neglected his T2 diabetes for many years and as a result had several toes amputated. But then he decided to take control (via Low Carb) and was in remission in less than 1yr. And had stayed in remission for over 2 yrs at the time he posted.

The reason that your ulcer isn't healing is because of your high Blood Glucose. So if you fix that quickly there is every reason to expect you have a chance of avoiding this amputation and certainly of preventing further amputations.
The fastest way of reducing Blood Glucose is by cutting carbs, but some people say they've had some eye issues by reducing carbs too quickly. Also it can be difficult to cut carbs hard if you are taking insulin, gliclazide or similar insulin boosting medication since they dosage relies on a certain amount of carbs boosting the blood glucose so that the blood glucose doesn't go too low (hypo) due to the does of the medication, which is dangerous.

Cheers Ian for the message, which I read with great interest. I neglected my diabetes and now i am paying for doing that
After being given a scare I am now trying to alter my sugar levels.

 

[yorkie blue]

Certainly having your blood glucose levels under good management is a good idea as that will help with tissue healing. I assume you are being treated by a specialist in foot care, not sure who that would be but are you having antibiotics that are not working in which case a different 'cocktail' may be needed.
But there may be some non antibiotic treatment which may help, manuka honey, silver dressings, or even maggots (sounds horrible I know but they are tiny) which have been used when conventional treatment doesn't work.
As you say amputation is a scary prospect.
How do you manage your condition?

I am on medication that helps, and see the diabetic footcare nurse every Friday. I am also waiting for a leg bypass
I am now taking my diabetes more serious with my wife helps

 

[Wannie]

Thank you and good luck with your Diabetes

Thank you hope all goes well for you too, take care

 

[NikyAndro]

I have an ulcer on my toe and is getting worse. They are talking about Amputation, this is very scary to me, would like some advice if anyone has been the same thing Thankyou

Hello,
I have had a TMA Transmetatarsel Amputation and looking for others to talk to. For me all 5 toes on my right foot are gone. Balance is tricky but Im on a path to recovery. If you want to talk about it I am happy to do so. Nicky

 

[NikyAndro]

I have an ulcer on my toe and is getting worse. They are talking about Amputation, this is very scary to me, would like some advice if anyone has been the same thing Thankyou

Just read some other replies and I can only talk about me, my blood sugar is under total control, the reason my toes wouldnt heal was because my blood vessels were blocked and had to be cleared with an Angioplasty. Sadly it was too late gangereen had set in and they had to get them off to save it spreading further. There are things that can be done to save limbs.

I have an ulcer on my toe and is getting worse. They are talking about Amputation, this is very scary to me, would like some advice if anyone has been the same thing Thankyou

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Just read some other replies and I can only talk about me, my blood sugar is under total control, the reason my toes wouldnt heal was because my blood vessels were blocked and had to be cleared with an Angioplasty. Sadly it was too late gangereen had set in and they had to get them off to save it spreading further. There are things that can be done to save limbs.

Thanks for your contributions @NikyAndro

@yorkie blue hasn’t been back since around 10th July, so may not see your replies I’m afraid.

 

[Reptile]

Hi @yorkie blue, sorry I cannot help with your query I am new to diabetes, but do know from accessing this forum for the past 5 weeks that someone will be along soon who will be able to give you an answer, there are some very knowledgeable and experienced people on the forum.

I haven't had an issue with my toe like the one you describe but did have an issue with a wound that wouldn't heal when I was "off the wagon" with an hba1c of 102. (Thats pretty bad). My wife was cutting my hair with a pair of electric clippers and quite badly cut the cartilage part of my ear. It became severely infected. I was able to bring the infection under control with 3-4 times daily applications of germolene. It wouldn't heal though. A thin layer of skin would form over the wound but it would dry up and fall off taking me back to square one. This went on for about a year.

My GP read me the riot act and gave me additional meds to control the blood glucose. It came down very fast indeed and I've since heard that this can be risky for your eyes but mine were thankfully fine. The wound healed, completely and permanently in less than two weeks.

Good blood glucose control is important for many reasons but it might be worth talking through with your doc. I was able to come off the additional meds (gliclazide) within a few weeks by diet alone. I went low carb, high fat with intermittent fasting (2 days every 14 days or so). I was checking my blood glucose 5-6 times a day to make sure I didn't go hypo.

Good luck with your toes, I hope they can be saved but if not, you can still live a good and fulfilling life missing some toes. Don't give up on you diabetes treatment and work with your doc to control your blood glucose. That's fundamental to so much.